Ladder-iron.



7 No. 696,848. P atented Apr.'l, 1:902;

I c. A. mum.

LADDER mun.

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1901.)

(Nb Model.)

UNiTh dTaTns PATENT @rrrcn.

CHARLES A. TRUITT, OF CIIINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, VIRGINIA.

LADDER-iRON.

SPEGIFIGATZQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,848, dated April 1,1902. Application filed August 8, 1901. Serial No. 70,819- (No model.)

To (0Z6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. TRUITT, a citizen of the United States,residingat Chincoteague Island, in the coun tyof Accomac and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Ladder-Iron, of which thefollowingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ladder-brackets capable of beingattached either to the upper or under side of a pair of ladders whenresting against a wall or the frame of a building, &c., in order tofurnish a support for a plank or'platform extending horizontally fromone ladder to the other for the use of carpenters, painters, or otherworkmen upon such structure.

The special object of my invention is to provide attaching-hooks forsuch brackets capable of lateral extension or contraction, thus makingsuch brackets applicable to ladders of any width.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of myimproved bracket applied to the upper side of a ladder. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the bracket applied to the lower side of the ladder.Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the upper bracket-iron in workingposition. Fig. l is a similar View of the same part detached and infolded position.

The ladder 1 is provided with the usual rungs 2 2. The platform-support3 is preferably of wrought metal and of suitable length. It ispreferably slotted centrally at 4 and terminated in avertically-flattened portion 5, having transverse perforations adaptedto engage a pin 7, passing through corresponding perforations in abifurcation 9 on the upper end of the brace 10. The opposite end of thesupport 3 is provided with extensions or lugs 11 on each side, to whichare pivoted, by means of pins or bolts 12, the ends of flattened links13, which are in turn pivoted at their other ends to the shanks 14 ofhooks 15, which are adapted to engage the rungs of the ladder. It willbe observed that by rotating the links 13 laterally upon their pivotsthe hooks 15 may be brought near together, or by rotating them in theopposite direction the links may be located at a considerable distanceapart, according to the length of the links, thus adapting this portionof the bracket to engage either wide or narrow ladders. The shanks ofthe hooks 15 are also provided with transverse perforations adapted toreceive a rod or bolt 17, on which are mounted clampingrungs 18,adjust-able at any point on the rod by means of set-screws 19 orotherwise, so that the hooks may be firmly secured in position at anydesired distance apart.

\Vhen the bracket is not in use, the links and hooks may be folded backin a very compact manner against the sides of the support, as shown-inFig. 4.

The lower bracket-iron 20 consists of an arm 21, a cross-head 22, andhooks 23, all of which may be integral or attached to each other in anypreferred manner. The arm 21 contains a slot 24, adapted to receive thelower end of the brace 10 and having a transverse perforation to receivea pin 25, by means of which the iron may be connected to the lower endof the brace 10 by passing said pin through the iron and any one of theseries of perforations 26 through the lower end of said brace.

The hooks 23 of the lower bracket-iron 20 are doublethat is, each hookhas a different form on its opposite sides, making each hook in realitytwo hooks, one of them having the greater duration and being adapted foruse when the bracket is upon the under side of the ladder and the otherfor use when it is on the upper side of the ladder, the tension beingdifierent in the two cases, so that hooks of differing form arerequired. When it is desired to transfer the lower bracket-iron 20 fromthe upper to the under side of the ladder, the part is removed from thebrace 10 and reapplied to the same in reversed position, so as to bringthe proper hooks toward the rung.

The adjustable connection between the platform-support 3 and the brace10 may be made by means of a slotted orbifuroated head or yoke on theupper end of the brace and a flattened bar on the end of the supportadapted to enter said yoke, as shown, or the reverse, and the same maybe said of the connection between the lower end of the brace and thelower bracket-iron, or other form of adjustable connection between saidparts may be adopted, and I do not limit my claims to the precise formof connection shown.

; 2,) a spring 27 may be employed for holding This brace 10 may be, ifpreferred, made in two sections united by a central splice or otherwisefor greater convenience in packing. It is to be understood that inpractice a pair of ladders is to be employed; that they are to be placedagainst the wall or building at about the same degree of inclination,the brackets applied to each of them at the same height, and the plankor platform extended across from one of the supports to the other.WVhether the brackets are applied to the upper or under sides of theladders will depend upon the exact location and nature of the work.

As shown in the drawings, (see Figs. 1 and the pin 25 in its operativeposition in engagement with one of the perforations 26 of the brace 10,or any equivalent means may be employed for that purpose.

Having described'my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. An adjustable ladder-bracket comprising aplatform-support provided at one end with a pair of books adapted toengage the rungs of the ladder, said hooks being connected to saidsupport by horizontally-pivoted links, adapting said hooks to be placedat varying distances from each other on the rung, in combination with adiagonally-disposed brace adjustably connected at its upper end with theouter end of said support, and similarly at its lower end with doublehooks adapted to engage the ladder-rungs, substantially as set forth.

2. An adjustable ladder-bracket comprising a platform-support providedat one end with a pair of hooks adapted to engage the rungs of theladder, said hooks being connected to said support by links pivoted tosaid support and said hooks, a rod or bar extending between said hooksand provided with stops or clamps for holding said hooks at varyingdistances apart, in combination with a brace adjustably connected at itsupper end with the outer end of said support and at its lower end withhooks adapted to engage the ladder-rungs, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ladder-bracket device of the character described, aplatform-support consisting of an elongated bar provided at one end withmeans for adjustably engaging a supportingbrace, and at its opposite endwith lateral extensions upon each side, links horizontally pivoted insuch extensions, and hooks pivoted in the outer ends of said links,whereby said hooks are made adjustable at varying distances apart,substantially as set forth.

I 4. In a ladder-bracket device, a platformsupport comprising anelongated bar adj ustable at one end to a supporting-brace, and

provided at its opposite end with lateral lugs upon each side, linkshorizontally pivoted in such lugs, hooks adapted to engage the rungs ofthe ladder horizontally pivoted in the outer ends of said links, androds connecting said hooks and provided with spacing clamps whereby saidhooks may be adjusted at varying distances apart, substantially as setforth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. TRUITT. Witnesses:

DAVID H; LEWIS, J. M. BIRCH.

